Altadena Conservation Group Rallies to Save Trees That Remove Carbon Dioxide from the Air

Community Efforts to Preserve Native Trees

After the Eaton and Palisades Fires destroyed thousands of trees that helped protect the air, a Southern California conservation group is urging caution when removing damaged trees. Altadena Green, a grassroots organization run by volunteer arborists, is advocating for the preservation of native trees that are being marked for removal by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers during phase 2 of the cleanup process.

“The oaks are one of the most resilient trees,” said Wynne Wilson, a member of Altadena Green. “They are going to come back, and we have seen many oaks marked for removal.”

Mixed Results and Concerns

The group’s efforts, however, have been met with mixed results. “We’ve had two people so far. In spite of extensive waivers, their trees were removed. And they were marked and tagged by our team of arborists,” Wilson said. “We’re marking the health of a tree, how large it is, also that we expect it to live.”

Arborists’ Judgment vs. Community Concerns

At a recent community meeting, the Army Corp discussed how its arborists use their best professional judgment to determine if a tree is hazardous or poses a danger. “If they are in the way of our crews being able to conduct debris removal, that’s a conversation that we do have with those homeowners prior to us doing the debris removal itself,” said Army Corp Col. Sonny. Wilson added that the Corps means well but may not be familiar with trees that are native to Southern California.

New Waiver Process for Homeowners

Starting this week, homeowners using the Army Corp cleanup service can fill out a waiver with a small diagram of their property, indicating if they want to keep their trees. This new process is aimed at addressing concerns and ensuring that homeowners’ wishes are respected.

Research Highlights Trees’ Carbon Sequestration Abilities

New research now shows that those trees could be absorbing more carbon dioxide than initially expected. “During the daytime, trees are taking up something like 60% of the fossil fuel CO2 that’s being emitted,” said USC professor William Berelson. Recent data from air quality sensors placed around Los Angeles is giving USC researchers insight into the canopy lost in the fire-burned zones. “With how many trees we’ve lost, and how much, what potential uptake of CO2 we lost because we lost so many trees, and then what trees we could plant to start taking up CO2 and start to capture that CO2 back up again,” said Berelson.

Conclusion

The efforts of Altadena Green and the community highlight the importance of preserving native trees, which play a crucial role in removing carbon dioxide from the air. As the world grapples with climate change, it is essential to recognize the value of these trees and take steps to protect them.

Frequently Asked Questions

* What is the purpose of Altadena Green?
+ Altadena Green is a grassroots organization run by volunteer arborists that aims to preserve native trees in the area.
* What is the current process for removing damaged trees?
+ The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is removing damaged trees during phase 2 of the cleanup process, but some trees are being prematurely removed.
* How can homeowners protect their trees?
+ Homeowners can fill out a waiver with a small diagram of their property, indicating if they want to keep their trees.